What Causes Mold In The Washer
Due primarily to their design, front-load washers are prone to mold, mildew, and unpleasant odors. Unlike top-load washers, the door on a front-load washer needs to have a watertight seal and be securely shut during a washing cycle. This makes it harder for the washer to dry out after washes, and the door gasket that seals the washer door is also a perfect place for mold and mildew to form. As discussed below, the type of detergent you use can also cause mold and mildew to form.
Cleaning A Front Loader Washing Machine With Bleach
Step 1: Set your washing machine on the highest temperature it will go.
Step 2: Pour two cups of bleach into the detergent tray.
Step 3: Set your washing machine to run on the longest cycle.
Step 4: Allow the cycle to start, the basket to fill, and the bleach to mix with the water.
Step 5: Pause the cycle and let the bleach and water sit inside the basket for half an hour.
Step 6: Resume the cycle and let it finish.
A Quick Recap About Front Load Washers
Front loads are far better than top loads. The reliability is roughly the same, but you have almost double the capacity of a top-load in a front load washer.
Top Load Washer Reliability 2019
Front Load Washer Reliability 2019
| 3494 | 13.02 % |
The overall reliability is nearly the same, but you have almost double the capacity of a top-load in a front load washer. Even at this greater capacity, you use far less water and energy.
You should seriously consider a front load versus a top load. Above all, dont be dissuaded about stories of odors.
Lets look at eliminating those fears now.
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How To Clean The Different Parts Of Your Washing Machine
Depending on if you have a front or top loader washer, there are different parts of your machine that will need more attention in order to keep clean. Front loaders are prone to mold and mildew growth in the folds of the rubber gasket around the door, while top loaders can get musty if water starts to drain slowly and pool in the bottom of the basket. Knowing which parts to keep an eye on, and how best to clean them, will make keeping your washing machine in top condition a breeze.
Destroy Mold With Lemon Juice And Bleach
Together, bleach and lemon make an excellent washing machine cleaning solution in large-scale infestations. They work to not only clean it out but inhibit future growth in the machine.
- Old toothbrush
As one of the best ways to clean a top load HE washer, start the clean up with the damp cloth and wipe out the interior as much as you can. It helps to get rid of any build-up of soap, detergent, and the top layers of mold.
Then, sprinkle in the baking soda and pour some vinegar into the gasket and let it sit for a minute. It should bubble.
Scrub the inside of the gasket and the drum with a toothbrush and wipe it out again afterward. Be sure to dry it after you have finished to keep dampness from encouraging new growth.
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Leave The Door Open Or Ajar
To prevent mold and mildew from growing and keep smells at bay, its best to leave the washer door open or ajar after each wash until the washer thoroughly dries out.
You might also consider leaving the door open all the time to prevent mold from growing. If your washer is in a high traffic area, you might consider using a laundry lasso to keep your door ajar while its not in use.
Cleaning A Top Loader Washing Machine With Bleach
Cleaning a top loader washing machine with bleach is a very similar process. If your top loader has a detergent drawer, add two cups of bleach, and put another two cups into the drum. If you dont have a drawer, just add four cups of bleach to the drum. Start the longest, hottest cycle and let the agitator mix the bleach with the water. Then pause the cycle and let the machine sit for half an hour, before restarting and completing the cycle.
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Have Mold In Your Washer Kill It Asap Here’s How
Mold is making your clothes smell less than fresh, even after a cleaning cycle.
Katie Teague
Writer
Katie is a Writer at CNET, covering all things how-to. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake.
Your washing machine is a damp environment where mold, mildew and bacteria thrive. As a result, your “clean” clothes end up smelling worse than when you put them in the washer, which can ruin a fresh load of laundry. By giving your washer the routine cleaning it needs, you can banish that gross stuff and prevent it from coming back.
Here’s how to get your clothes and washing machine smelling fresh and clean again, and how to keep the bad smells away in the future.
Final Thoughts On How To Clean Your Front Load Washing Machine
Unfortunately, front load washers do need more maintenance than regular washing machines. Keep a monthly cleaning schedule and remember to keep the door to the washer open at all times and youll be amazed at how clean your front load washer stays.
Have any tips on cleaning your front load washer that we missed? Let us know below!
Now that your front load washer is clean, heres how to get the smell out of bath towels and dont forget to check out some of my favorite smelly dishwasher hacks, too!
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Prevent Mold With Commercial Products
There are several laundry detergents or additives that work to get rid of mold spores from clothing.
Laundry Additives
Some products stop mold from finding a place to rest in the washing machine, killing it before it starts growing. If spores do settle, using laundry additives prevents it from growing during the next wash cycle. You can also make a natural laundry detergent to discourage growth.
Use a Dehumidifier
The last one of the ways to clean mold from your front loading machines is with a dehumidifier. These keep damp spots from forming in the laundry room, starving the mold of a humid place to live.
Keeping it in the laundry room close to the washer helps to keep the mold at bay before even having to start the cleanup process.
Use Enzyme Detergent To Remove Mold In Top Loading Washing Machine
If your top loading washing machine is in particularly bad shape, use some stronger detergents for mold removal. To remove mold in top loading washing machine, put a ½ cup of a powdered enzyme dishwasher detergent into the wash tub and run a cycle on the hottest setting.
If you dont have enzyme detergent, you can also make a natural washing machine cleaner in two steps.
Natural Washing Machine Cleaner Recipe for Top-Loaders
- 3 to 4 cups of white vinegar
- ½ cup of baking soda
This recipe works because it attacks mold on two fronts. The vinegar first disinfects the machine before the baking soda cleans off soap scum and leaves your washer smelling fresh.
Turn the dial on your washer to the hottest setting and allow the water to fill the tub. Do not use cold water, as the heat helps kill germs, as well. Add the white vinegar and allow it to settle in the water for about one minute, leaving the lid open.
Add in the baking soda and allow it to mix with the water and vinegar for about a minute. Cut off the water and let the cleaner sit for about half an hour to an hour.
Grab a rag and clean the interior of the machine with the sitting water. Once youre satisfied with your scrubbing, start the cycle again and let the cleaning solution do its work.
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Rubber Gasket Cleaning With Baking Soda And White Vinegar
If you prefer to clean the natural way, consider using white vinegar and baking soda. The two ingredients act together to remove mold and grime and are a great natural alternative for rubber gasket cleaning.
Pull back the rubber gasket of the washer to reveal the crevice underneath and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into the crease. Fill a bottle sprayer with white vinegar and spray the liquid directly on the baking soda.
Use a sponge or toothbrush to wipe away grime and front load washer mold from the rubber seal inside and outside. Get a clean towel wet with water and wipe all residue from the gasket before drying the area with a clean cloth.
Doall Front Loaders Have Mold Problems
Pretty much. In fact, ALL washing machines can have mold problems. Front loaders get a bad rep because mold tends to grow out of control in that rubber gasket area. But there are plenty of other areas in washing machines where mold can grow. There are the trays where you put detergent and bleach. There is the top area of the basin just under the washing machine housing on the top loaders that can get mold growth. There is the basin itself. The door can get moldy. But that gasket area on a front loader is definitely the biggest culprit when it comes to mold growth.
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How To Remove And Clean Mold From The Detergent Drawer
Whileyour detergent drawer is soaking and air drying, you will want to work on theactual dispenser area on the washing machine.
Once the detergent drawer and the dispenser housing area is dry, slide the drawer back into the washer.
About Daniel And Ashley
As a licensed general contractor with more than 10 years in the business, Daniel can walk you through any home renovation or improvement project step-by-step. And if youre here for home design and paint color advice, Ashleys your girl! Join us as we share helpful tips and step-by-step tutorials on anything and everything home. Were also renovating our personal home along the way, and will use this blog as a way to document our progress. Read more…
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Haresh Sharma
14/02/2022
Better Living
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A front loader has many advantages like better energy efficiency, less water consumption, improved cleaning performance and a plethora of washing programs. But, one of its main disadvantages is that they can reek of mold and mildew. Initially, it would be just unsightly black patches on the rubber sealing of the front loader. But soon, the whole washing machine starts stinking and even your washed clothes. In our comparison, we have found this problem occurs more in Bosch and IFB washing machines. This is because their gaskets fold in such a way that detergent and residue get settled inside. Comparatively, LG is better in this aspect.
But irrespective of the brand you choose, if you are careful enough and follow some basic tips, you will be able to eliminate mold in your washing machine. Let us get into that first.
How To Remove Mold From Washingmachines
- First, create a mold removal solution. You can either use acommercial mildew cleaner or make your own mixture. Here are several homemadecleaners you can create:
- 2 cups water, ½ cuphydrogen peroxide, and ¼ cup lemon juice hydrogen peroxide and lemon juiceare effective cleaners that combat mold and inhibit its growth.
- 2 cups water, ¼ cup lemonjuice, and ½ cup distilled white vinegar white vinegar is an all-aroundcleaner that you can use as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide.
- 1-part vinegar and 4 partswater just vinegar and water can do the trick if the mold growth in yourwasher gasket is in sparse amounts.
- 1-part bleach and 4 partswater use bleach if the above-mentioned natural cleaners dont work for you.
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How To Clean A Front Load Washer
Front load washing machines are notoriously hard to keep clean. Mold, mildew, laundry soap buildup and funky smells are at the top of everyones complaint list.
After tons of trial and error and getting advice from washing machine techs, weve learned how to keep our HE washer smelling fresh and clean year after year.
Here youll learn how to clean a front load washer, plus tips to keep it clean and smelling fresh!
This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.
In Top Loader Machine
1. Wear Protective Gear
Just like you would with a front-loader, you should wear protective equipment. This includes your gloves, mask, and goggles. Open a window for ventilation.
2. Fill Machine With Water and Cleaner
Set the machine to a hot cycle and let the drum fill up with hot water. When its finished filling, pause the cycle. Add ½ cup of bleach or one cup of distilled white vinegar. Remember never to combine these two cleaners. Its super dangerous!
Let the water soak for one hour before continuing the wash cycle.
3. Clean Machine While Water Is Soaking
Dip a microfiber cloth into the hot water thats soaking. Scrub the entire machine, all around the top and under the lip, where mold likes to hide. Pay attention to nooks and crannies. Scrub well. You can swap it out for a scrubbing brush if a cloth doesnt cut it.
4. Run the Cycle
Shut the washing machine lid and let the cycle continue. This gives the bleach a chance to deep clean the drain and drum.
5. Dry Machine
Take a towel or microfiber cloth and wipe down the machine and drum. Make sure its nice and dry, which can prevent mold and mildew build-up between uses.
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Dont Use Too Much Liquid/powder
Despite what the little lines on the laundry cap tell you, dont fill up the cap more than the 1 or 2 line, and less for smaller loads.
Of course, detergent companies wont give you this advice, but Ive heard this from both service technicians and local appliance companies. HE detergent is so concentrated, so you really dont need that much.
How To Clean Mold From A Washing Machine
Although a front loading washer is known to be a high-efficiency machine, which is why many people prefer it, mold removal needs to be more of a habit than with a top loading machine. You may ask, Is it mold or mildew?
Either way, there are specific areas in a front load washing machine that need a focused scrubbing. First, prepare your preferred cleaner and some warm water. Then check out these three areas to be sure you properly remove mold.
Gasket
The gasket is the rubber seal that keeps water from squeezing around the washer door. This door seal collects build-up from the suds from the soapy water and allows mold growth.
Do you know how to clean a front load washer gasket? Its quite easy. Use a cleaner and a toothbrush to remove mold from rubber seal effectively.
Dispensers
The detergent dispenser and lint dispenser are other hot spots in a front loader. Take these out and use your mold remover and a rag to clean them thoroughly. Another suggestion is not to use fabric softener but vinegar instead. Mold seems to flock to the softener dispenser.
Once you have put better laundry habits in place and have go-to recipes that allow you to get the job done quickly, you shouldnt have problems with washing machine mold growth again.
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